Daily devotional · December 31
The Keeper Who Never Sleeps
“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber. Behold, the Protector of Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is the shade on your right hand. The sun will not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will guard you from all evil; He will preserve your soul. The LORD will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore.”
On the last night of the year, many people feel a mix of gratitude, regret and nervousness about what comes next. Psalm 121 is a traveler's song. The pilgrim looks at the hills and asks where help will come from, then answers that it comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth. The word keep appears again and again: He will not let your foot slip, He who keeps you will not slumber, and He will keep your going out and your coming in from now on and forever. You are not carrying the coming year by yourself. Before midnight, spend a few minutes thanking God for specific ways He kept you this year, in ordinary days and in hard ones. Then hand Him the unknowns of the year ahead, one by one, and rest. He does not sleep, so you can.
Prayer
Lord, my Keeper, thank You for this year. I place the next one in Your hands. Amen.